English Language Development

Snapshot 6.5. Making Inferences Using a Graphic Organizer

Integrated ELA/Literacy and Science Lesson in Grade Seven (cont.)

used when I was explaining my thinking. Since you’re working with a partner, you’ll have to

agree on the inferences you make, and the language you use to record the information in your

chart needs to be the same.”

He points to the steps of the activity listed on the whiteboard at the front of the room

and reminds students that they can refer to the phrase bank next to it (Because __, we can

infer that ___; The ___, so ___. The ___ resulted in ___.). He says, “First, take turns reading

the segments of the article. Stop reading when you get to the first adhesive tape flag. Then,

discuss what you have read and use that information along with your background knowledge

and what you observed in today’s demonstration to make an inference. Use your graphic

organizer to write down clues from the text that helped you make your inference under

the “I Know” column. Write your inference in the last column. You will have 20 minutes to

complete this activity and then we will discuss your inferences as a whole class. Are there any

questions?” As the pairs begin to work, Mr. Schoen circulates around the room, monitoring

student discussion, asking probing questions to elicit student thinking, and providing specific

feedback. After the students have worked together on this task, Mr. Shoen pulls the class back

together again and asks students to share the evidence and inferences they found. If the class

agrees that the evidence is valid and the inference is solid, he asks the students who shared

to add it to the graphic organizer:

The Demonstration

Showed

I Know

(from texts and

background knowledge)

Inference

(conclusion drawn from

evidence and reasoning)

• Solution bubbled and
  changed from blue to
  yellow when dry ice
  was added.


• It changed back to blue
  when sodium hydroxide
  was added.
  
  
  • Color changes indicate
    chemical reactions.
  
  
  • Water usually has a
    neutral pH.
  
  
  • Dry ice makes water
    acidic.
  
  
  • Sodium hydroxide is a
    base.
  
  
  • The yellow color means
    it is an acidic solution.
    
    
    • Adding dry ice to the
      water resulted in the
      water turning acidic.
    
    
    • Because the sodium
      hydroxide neutralized
      the solution we can
      infer that it is a base.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  

This way, the class has collectively developed a model for making inferences from

observations, texts, and background knowledge.

Grade 7 Chapter 6 | 587